Find Electrician Services Near You

Electricians provide many important electrical-based maintenance services. Read how to find electrician repair and educational services near you today.

Electricians are specially trained workers who provide multiple important electrical-based maintenance services. Electricians work as sole proprietors and for larger companies or construction contractors. Electrical work is required in private residences, businesses and larger structures such as concert event venues/sporting arenas. Repairing dangerous electric devices and wiring requires specific skills. Dealing with even the most common home electrical issues involves risks even for those with years of training. Nationwide online schools are available in 2021 help someone learn how to be a professional electrician. Training often requires both schooling and an apprenticeship before prospects receive certification to work on their own as a certified electrician/journeyman. Read ahead for information on how to find electrician repair and educational services near you today.

Types of Services Provided by Professional Electricians

Types of services provided by professional electricians include those performed at residential, corporate, automotive and large-venue locations. Certain elements of electrician services are similar regardless of the location/building. Other aspects are unique to each job. An overview of residential, corporate/commercial, large venue and automotive-based electrician services is provided directly below.

Residential Services

Repair and replace dead outlets, fuse boxes and electrical panels
Install new lighting, ceiling fans and appliances
Repair faulty wiring and components in appliances (refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc.)
Install home-wide surge protection units
Restoration of tripped Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Fix shorted/overheated circuit breakers
Upgrade/replace entire household electrical system (required in many older residential buildings)
Upgrades to overall electrical system (especially in older homes)

Corporate/Commercial Services

Install building-wide surge protection units
Installation of motion detection and security systems
Upgrade/retrofit lighting
Upgrade wiring in building to maintain compliance
Add energy-saving components and systems
Install new intercom/communication devices and systems
Implement visual monitoring systems (parking garages, elevators, break rooms, etc.)
Repair wiring in elevators/escalators
Rewire buildings/rooms as needed due to construction or remodels
Inspection and maintenance of overall electrical system

Large Venues

Large venues include airport terminals, concert stadiums, amusement parks and sporting arenas. Each large venue has its own unique needs and requirements. Regulations and compliance are also different for each type of large venue, but overall electrician services often include:

Installation of teleprompters and jumbotrons
Protection against overloads and outages
Wiring of massive security monitoring systems
Installation of emergency lighting
Wiring electronic message and sign boards
Wiring large sound and telecommunication systems
Installing teleprompters

Automotive Services

Install anti-theft systems
Install and repair anti-lock brake system
Repair fuel injection and overall electrical systems
Repair and replace heat/AC system wiring and electronic components
Repair aspects of electronic transmission systems
Installing/repairing wiring applicable to computerized automobile systems

Most Common Types of Home Electrical Issues

High electric and energy bills are two of the most common types of home-based electrical issues in 2021. Faulty wiring in appliances, the HVAC system or overall electrical system often causes electric bills to skyrocket. This is especially true in older homes with outdated wiring. Light bulbs burn out too frequently when wattage to the bulb is too high or insulation is too near the light fixture. Bad circuit wiring, excessive wattage on a dimmer switch and poor connections all also cause light bulbs to burn out prematurely.

Frequent electrical surges are typically caused by a faulty device connected to the main grid of your house or a specific outlet. Remove all poorly made devices one-by-one to troubleshoot he issue until the electrical surges stop. If they continue, the issue is possibly related to the wiring in the overall electrical system of your home. A professional electrician is required to assess and fix this type of issue. Additional types of common home electrical issues include:

Power dips
Faulty light/dimmer switches
Tripped circuit breaker (due to shorts, overloads, bad wiring, etc.)
Brightness of lights to high or low
Household members experiencing frequent electrical shocks when touching metal objects
Dead outlets

Electrician Schooling/Training 101

People interested in becoming a certified professional electrician must go through specific education and training protocols. The work is dangerous and requires skill sets acquired through schooling and on-the-job training. Electrician schools, also referred to as electrician trade schools, educate students in electrical theory and mathematics in addition to real-world applications. Safety training is also mandatory to prevent accidents and keep electricians, customers, and clients safe during service calls.

Apprenticeships are required as part of the certification process. Both unionized and non-unionized apprenticeships are offered in each U.S. state. Apprenticeships help electricians-in-training obtain varied levels of skill sets from beginner to advance under strict supervision of a master electrician. Apprenticeships are also paid programs, which is an added benefit to the certification process. Non-union apprenticeships reward electricians relative to quality of workmanship. Non-union apprenticeships offer flexibility but not much wage protection. Union apprenticeships such as those facilitated by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) charge dues to members but in exchange offer many valuable wage/job security protections.

How Long Does the Apprenticeship/Certification Process Take?

Becoming a certified professional electrician takes between four and six years when trade schools and apprenticeships are both pursued. Certain trade-school electrician schools require nine to twelve months or more to complete. Pursuing a career in electrical engineering or other more advanced electrician work requires two to six years of college education. Becoming certified requires you to pass the Electrical IBEW Aptitude Test in addition to state-specific electrician certification requirements. Multiple hundreds of schooling/apprentice hours are also required prior to receiving your actual license to practice. For more information on specific license/certification requirements in your state visit ElectricianSchoolEdu.org.

Top Nationwide Online Schools to Learn to be an Electrician

Nearly every top U.S. electrician school today offers an online learning program. Some schools allow online-only training, while others require hybrid learning (includes both online and on-campus courses). The most important consideration when selecting a school is to research its status as an accredited institution. Accredited Schools Online lists nationwide online electrician schools with accredited status. Accredited schools are taken seriously by prospective employers and generally offer better quality programs. Some of the top nationwide electrician schools with online learning options include:

Electrician Programs – Costs & Financial Aid

Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to learn about possible options for financial aid to pay for some or all your education. Federal Pell Grants are available to students in exceptional financial need. Individual schools also offer scholarships and grants based on financial aid and academic merit.